ANTEDILUVIAN BEINGS. op | 
We pass on to notice the other series of animal 
remains afforded by this district, with a view to 
positive discrimination of species. We said that 
our district must at one period have presented com- 
plications of economy among living beings, that, 
series of plants and animals had their existence 
here anteriorly to the “ Deluge” which we imagine 
overspread the ground and annihilated them. Itis 
surprising however, that of this chain of beings 
some only of the connected links are now found. 
There are four spots where relics of this era now 
spoken of have been recognised, and they consist 
so far as I have learned and experienced, of the 
highest tribes of animals alone.* _ It is still more 
curious, that even these have been found solely in 
caves,—they have not been met with in the diluvium 
of this district external to these cavernous deposi- 
tories. But, that the stratum in which they repose 
is diluvial matter no one can doubt, since it is so 
thoroughly analogous to the same deposit without, 
in its several characteristics before recited. 
The caves wherein these antediluvian reliques are 
deposited being in each case of limestone, stalag- 
mitic incrustations are formed on their floors, and 
on the substances from time to time introduced ; 
accordingly, confused collections of clay (of antedi- 
luvyian date, as I suppose) and stalagmite, occur 
*Very lately however, Mr. T. Colley found a nerita in soil just 
over a bed of lime, many feet below the surface, and it may pro- 
bably be a question, whether the Bovey coal formation may not 
be hereafter classed with diluvial deposits. It has hitherto been 
ranked among later depositions, and its circumscribed occurrence 
is indeed somewhat unfavorable to its arrangement among depo- 
sitions so general as are those attributable to the diluvial epoch. 
Besides consisting of the remains of trees and grasses, a few shells 
have been found in this coal. Fine specimens of jet have occurred 
there, as I am informed. 
L 
